72 comments:

I loved Japanese Deer Park! I was born in S.Cal in 1963, and visited the park often with my family and on school field trips. I remember feeding the deer (they mostly wanted to eat the lace off my socks, or the skirt of my dress). The bear show, karate shows I remember all too well.Absolutely wonderful. I think I was in the 4th grade (1974) when my dad told me the park closed due to diseased deer. My step-mom recently put together a photo album for me. Many pages of that precious photo album included pictures of me at Japanese Deer Park. What great memories. I now live in N. Cal and none of my friends ever heard of Japanese Deer Park. Their loss!

I remember bits and pieces of Japanese Village and Deer Park. I was pretty young, but my elementary school would often choose that as a field trip destination (when we weren't going to Olvera Street for the 50th time). I especially remember the trained bears, the koi ponds, the origami displays in the shops, the tea ceremonies my Mom wouldn't let me go to (she thought I'd be too bored), and most of all -- ready for the crazy one? -- the large Nabisco sign on the building across the freeway!

The poster on June 20 is correct, though. Many of the photos are actually the now-defunct Busch Gardens California (in Van Nuys). Specifically the shots containing large bodies of water with the boat and the "floating" building. That building was an eating area and free beer locale. I suspect many of the wildlife pics are also Busch Gardens, as it was a bird sanctuary, too.

I will be hunting for Japanese Village photos to contribute to this page. I hope others do, too.

Oh boy did this bring back memories. I was just telling my family about the Japanese Deer Park the other day. I recall my mother taking us there often along with my grandmother who lived in Norwalk. We lived in Santa Ana. I just remember it being a peaceful place and across the freeway from Nebisco (sp).

Back in 1970, a short "promo" film was made about me...I was a "child singer" who performed with such celebrities as Don Ho. Shot in 16mm, the film never served much purpose in its time period, but now is something of a historic document. We shot a sequence at the Japanese Village and Deer Park, with myself singing "Born Free", while deer were "encouraged" to follow me about. I had a wonderful time, being a 12 year old animal lover with a particular fondness for deer. Still, there were grueling

hours of takes and retakes andit was extremely hot; I remember the producer and director invested in a paper Japanese parasol, and I spent a good deal of time in its shade.Years later, when I learned of the Park's demise, I was extremely saddened...another chunk of my bizarre but enjoyable childhood on the fringes of showbiz biting the dust. The film survives is in thekeeping of an archivist friend of mine in Hawai'i. I also have a great many 35mm slides taken by my father during the filming...someday if I'm able to get them scanned, I can send them to you for the sake of preserving more Orange County Memories.

Hey I think it's great that you shared your special childhood memory with us, and I also think that it would be extremely gracious of you to post your slides. And it sounds like that will take some effort on your part so Thank You in advance and Good Luck in your endeavor.

OMG! Japanese Village was magical to me. I remember this wonderful but very strange smell everytime I went there with my family. My last visit there I was 8 and I was determined to find out what that smell was. I wondered behind curtains where I wasn't allowed but I remember finding an old Japanese man melting wax that he would then mold into the most beautiful candles. I still remember the smell to this day but more importantly how wonderful Japanese Village was to me and how wonderful the staff was. It was also the only time in my life I got to pet a dolphin!

I also was born in SoCal (pasadena) in 63 and remember this place....how badly I wanted a deer after visiting there...the net is amazing...just a few strokes and there it is..it's been so long I almost thought I imagined it, but the pics of the deer park and facade are right on. I don't have as many memories as some, as we only visited the place once that I remember, but I agree with a previious poster...anyone who didn't have a chance to experience this definitely missed something. Thanks for taking the time to put all this stuff up. definitely a melancholy walk down memory lane...

I lived two miles from the park. During the summer they had dancing after dark. It was great to go for a date. You could see the shows, get teriyaki on a stick with white sticky rice, feed doves, koi and deer and wander through the shops. It was such a nice place. I loved the bear show, the karate exhibition and the dolphins. Such a serene place to spend the day.

I was born in Garden Grove in 1960. My father used to take us to Japanese Village to see the deer and the shows...I still have a snow globe (most of the water has evaporated). Brings back wonderful childhood memories of growing up in Orange County.

I vaguely remember the Japanese Deer Park. I remember the trained baers that would swing on a giant wooden swing until they went all the way around! Somewhere my parents have silent, color movies of the bears doing their thing on the swings. It also includes some great pan shots of the park. When I convert them to digital I'll post them here. I have tried to discuss the Japanese Deer Park with my wife but she is 7 years my junior and has never heard of it. She thinks I'm crazy. I'll have to show her this site!

Sorry but strange question: were there sheep at Japanese Village and Deer Park? I have a photo of my then 3 old son (in 1970) snuggling up to a sheep; the location in my memory is JVDP. I suppose it could have been some petting zoo or may Knott's Berry Farm.I remember watching the Tea Ceremony with fascination. What a beautiful, calm place that was.

Sorry, no sheep at the Japanese Village. Cheeta the chimp from the old Tarzan movies lived in the back. We had a lion, some tigers; we even had a large koi fish that could play cards (actually he was trained to select the non-face cards). We had a killer whale, dolphins, sea lions, and some Akita dogs. My most memorable moment was meeting Natalie Woods at the Japanese Village. She was with Ed "Kookie" Burns. They were eating lunch at the Teahouse and talked with me a bit. I didn't know that her real name was Natasha, and that she could speak Russian fluently.I was a show announcer at the Japanese Village. I announced the Bear Show and Dolphin Show. My name is Masa Ikeda.

I was born in 1970 in Manhattan Beach, CA. We have photos in an album or me as a tiny kid at this place from 1970-1972. I vaguely remember it. It's sad that this is gone along with Lion Country Safari at what was then Irvine RANCH! Also- remember Bush Gardens in Van Nuys and Marine World at Palos Verdes. I will share my memories of these great 1970s places with my kid someday.

It is true that the deer at the Japanese Village came down with an animal form of tuberculosis, but that was not the reason that the park closed.The Great Southwest Corporation, the parent company of Six Flags, purchased the Japanese Village in a package deal to get ownership of the Movieland Wax Museum. Once the deal was completed, closing the Japanese Village was a business decision. The profits from the Movieland Wax Museum had been keeping the Japanese Village alive. The Japanese Village was only profitable during the summer months and not profitable during the rest of the year.

Wow! Thanks so much for posting these photos. My wife grew up in Stanton, but she was born in '67 so either never went there or doesn't remember. We used to beg to go feed the deer. The best day trip was a combo Deer Park - Alligator Farm visit. These pictures bring back wonderful memories.

I still remember Masa Ikeda, the world renowned jv&dp show announcer who drove a nice blue? corvette. A lady's man with a humble approach. An old tree at the end of Village Drive, Buena park is the only thing left from that era. Gone are the Big Tea House, Sake Bar, Koi Pond, Deer Field, Cash Control, Pearl Divers, Pavillion of the Rising Sun, the Smell from the Nabisco Plant, and the Dances.

Graduating from Long Beach Poly we were always looking for a date spot. Married in 65 then went often due to limited funds. I still have an ashtray from there. Havn't smoked for 30 years but I would not part with the ashtray.

After the park closed some of the deer were taken to Cota De Caza country club and were kept in pens there, a few escaped and I would see them on my parents ranch. They were about 1/5 the size of the black tail mule deer common in that area.

This is so cool! I was born in '61 at Katella Community Hospital, and in trying to find info I found this blog. I haven't thought about the Japanese Deer Park in years! I, too, thought it was a magical place. Looking back, I am thankful to have grown up in Buena Park near so much magic, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Japanese Deer Park, and all of the beaches. We moved north in 1975 and I never knew what happened to the park. By the way, does anyone know what happened to Katella Community Hospital in Stanton?

Alas, I also remember the Japanese Deer Park. Gone too soon! I remember my mother and grandmother always looking for jewelry or other treasures in the shops and them paying the pearl diver who never seemed to bring up that elusive black pearl! I still have a tiny wooden Japanese jewelry box with drawers that I would use for my doll stuff. I wish there were nice places like this today to take children/grandchildren.

I cannot express the intense surprise in finding this site! Japanese Village and Deer Park has always been a constant in my mind since I worked there at the Glass Blowers Shop back in 1971. I googled the Park on a whim (and from curiousity), and found myself with misty eyes. I was a teenager living in Santa Ana, and took the bus to and from work to try and help my Mom who was a struggling single Mother. My lunches were usually spent feeding the Koi and the Deer (some small humor; the smells being with the deer was very much more welcomed than the paints I used painting the wonderful creations of the Master Glass Blower!:-). I agree with some of the messages I've read, that it has been so long, that it almost seems like it was a dream! If it weren't for the fact that I worked there, it would indeed seem like a 'dream', for a dream it truly was . . .to be surrounded by beauty, tranquility and the culture of my Ancestors. I was very Blessed with the opportunity to have worked there, and will carry the memory with me forever.

Japanese Deer Park was just wonderful! A friend of mine worked there feeding the dolphins, and also took a Karate(?) class there with Chuck Norris as the instructor. It was such a beautiful place and it was a perfect place for a date! I cherish my memories from that time and am sad that it's not there anymore. It was a magical place!

My Mother used to love to visit the Japanese Deer Park back in the late 60's. She offered to take me there after I was discharged from the Navybecause it didn't exist before I left. It's strange that I now live just a mile or so from the old Deer Park location which was just off Knott Ave. with Artesia Blvd. bordering on the North and Village Drive is South of that. It's now the site of a small Industrial Complex and Park.

what a fun walk down memory lane! My mom worked for JV&DP when it was coupled with Movieland Wax Museum. We went often, I loved the dolphin shows and petting the deer. My mom was a great dumpster diver, our house was filled with slightly damaged stuff they could not sell at the gift shops. I always thought we were part japanese. My sis and I worked at the Museum during our High School years, what a place! Anyone remember Marilyn Westlake?

I once dated one of the JV&DP porpoise riders. B.R. & I met at Western High in the 68-69 school year. She was a junior, I a senior. Her father was an American soldier who married a Japanese woman. B, if you ever read this, I still have your picture in the grass skirt! JV&DP was a wonderful contrast to hectic places like Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm.

Well I am sad to say when I was 7years old I was bittenby one of the tamed lions you could take pictures withI received a settlement when I reached 18. I still havethe pictures of the place. It is a parking lot now. and for the lion he is gone as well

Its is amazing that by chance I would stumble upon this site by accident. I remember that almost 4 decades ago Japanese Village And Deer Park was a place where the imaginations of men magically came to life. I remember coming to work their in the summer of 1970. It was my first job after I graduated from high school... I was 17. There at Japanese Village And Deer Park, they had a specialized division secluded in an out of the way place within the park. They called it J.A.D.E. Animation (Japanese village And Deer park Electronics). Hidden out of the way from the public's eye...It was here that people (like Vern Preston and George Mumford) made figurines of men and animals out of welded steel, wires and cables, electronic components on circuit boards and bindle after bundles of pneumatic and hydraulic lines...All which moved using hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, solenoid and other such devices to re produce mobility... In the end these figurines (all which were mysteriously pre-programmed by 8 track tape systems and therefore controlled by men...just like Disneyland's Hall of Presidents). These figurines would end up in various places around the world. From the hallways, and workshops of Jade... Jacques Coustea's Dream of a living sea museum, which ultimately had the animated figure of mankind living under the sea in the year 2000 (he was called Homoaqaticus). This exhibit went on board the Queen Mary in long beach. I speak about these things because I know first hand of them..as I created the molds for the hands and face of this figure while working for Jade Animation... I and other of these men were (or would become) audio animatronics engineers.

These people would be the ones who pioneered the technologies that are used today on the movie sets of "The Terminator" and other sci-fi movies of that type.. Japanese Village and Deer Park was much more than just a Deer Park...and some dolphin pools. To a small but lucky few of us...it was the place where people like Jacques Cousteau and other visionaries of their day would come to, join in, watching, creating the marvels of men translate their ideas of the future or their recollections of the past into figurines that walked and talked....mimicking life.There is much more to be told here...about Japanese Village and deer Park that is all but lost in history... Ultimately this place would create life-like figurines of Abraham Lincoln, Will Rogers...or the Japanese Kyoto Player...

These and other robots were silently created in the quieter places within the Deer park... and shipped to points around the world. It was a great first job... it forever changed my life... and It allowed me to learn a career which has sent me to 70 countries in these last 36 years. If anyone who reads this has any pictures of the animated figures that were also displayed at Japanese Village and Deer Park, or Jacques Cousteau Museum of the Living Sea on the Queen Mary.. I can be contacted at coldenviews@gmail.com ... thanks for allowing me to post my memories to this site... I am sure that no one really ever knew this hidden side of the equation...Sincerely.Electric1PS: I worked with another kid... he was also my age... Together we were both apprentice audio animatronics engineers...

As a former JVDP employee and Movieland Wax Museum(71-74), I am trying to figure out where JADE was located within the park. Since the park was small, I thought I knew every nook and cranny. I met and talked with Jacques Cousteas while he visited the Park. His enthusiatic conversation about oceanography was endless so much that his wife had to break off our conversation. The only remaining evidence of the Park now is a big tree at the end of Village Dr.

Wow im 42 and was thinking about being young in anaheim i was searching for hobby city then remembered Japanese Village and Deer park thanks for the memories oooooo oooo ooo and the only place my dad would go with us was busch gardens becouse he could drink lol. Don Clements

Wow im 42 and was thinking about being young in anaheim i was searching for hobby city then remembered Japanese Village and Deer park thanks for the memories oooooo oooo ooo and the only place my dad would go with us was busch gardens becouse he could drink lol. Don Clements

I was just sharing childhood memories of my childhood in Orange County with my daughter-in-law. I was attempting to explain that Orange County was actually a magical place in the 60s and 70s. Where else could you slip over to Disneyland on free passes for just a couple of hours or ditch school and watch the surfing championships? The Japanese Deer Park suddenly came to mind and I was instantly transported to a lovely moment in my childhood. What a treasure the net is to provide us with almost instantaneous photo gratification!! I grew up in Huntington Beach and remember going to the Deer Park with my parents from about 1968-1971. It was a family favorite. Every time we went, I was allowed to choose one of the tiny glass blown animals. When I met a sweet young guy named Phill, my family let him tag along once to the Deer Park. I married him at age 17.

It was here that I decided I had to have a fancy fantail goldfish. Hence, my beautiful Shimi and Shimoto. Here, I decided that I wanted a pet deer. Hence, I now live in Ashland, OR and the wild deer are so tame you have to shoo them off your front lawn. Here, I decided that Asian women were the prettiest in the world. Hence, when my high school sweetheart and I married and later had children, we adopted two baby girls from Korea (and went on adopting until we now have 18 children). Here, I think I forged the idea of more is always better. Hence, we just don't have one small dog, we have seven (all rescues). My life looks a bit like the Japanese Deer Park.

So, all in all, I would say the Deer Park left an indelible imprint on my life. Now, about those doves........

Wow, thanks for the memories. I was listening to some old music, when I remembered spending my 8th grade graduation from Bell Junior High, in 1971, at the Deer Park. I was pleasantly pleased to find this place has not been forgotten. I love the photos you posted, although I have to admit, I only remember bits and pieces. I had a great time that early summer night, back when Southern California was the promised land.

How exciting! I was talking to a friend on the phone tonight and he was watching a show called, California Gold. I asked him if he remembered the Deer Park and he said, No! How nice it was to take that trip down memory lane.

We lived in Santa Ana and as the daughter of a working mother, this was our girl time. We would spend time walking and talking. I lost my wallet there once and some one was nice enough to return it "With the money inside". Hey $20.00 was big bank in 1970.

I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. During the summer I spent a week or two every year at my Grandmothers house in Thousand Oaks. She would take the week or two off work and we would go go go for the whole week. I went to all the staples Disney, Knotts, Universal. We also went to Busch Gardens the Japanese Deer Park and Marine Land. Along with several other Places. It is great to see that someone has a spot to reminese about these places.

WOW!! What great memories this site has renewed. I was born in Norwalk in 1958, have fond memories of the JVDP, it was a nice place that the family could visit on a limited budget, like P.O.P., the Pike, MarineLand, Olvera St., China Town, Knotts to see the Marionettes, The Alligator Farm across from Knotts, and Disneyland on an E ticket! I have tried to explain the JVDP to my children how the village had such a sense of serenity and was so magical just like being in an imaginary place. We now reside in Orange County and I wanted to share my childhood memories with them. Thank you for the opportunity. C

I love Japanese Village and Deer park! I remember all too well, the walks on the walk way, the deer petting area. It was a part of my life in the 60's. I am sad that is forever gone but never forgotten in my Childhood memories. It was a great Family place. Nowadays everyone wants more of a thrill so they can go to Disneyland, Knotts berry farm near by and Magic mnt! This will forever be a great memory in my mind!

I was trying to remember where the Japanese Village was located in Buena Park. I thought it was somewhere on Beach Bl between Buena Park and Stanton. But I do remember going there with my sister and her boyfriend and enjoyed it very much. I especially remember the koi pond and feeding the deer right from my hand. You could buy some deer kibble out of a coin-operated gum-ball type of dispenser machine. It's too bad we no longer have these types of attractions to take our children to. Afterwards, we would still visit Knotts Berry Farm all in the same day as well. Life was so much less hectic back then. Thanks for the wonderful memories.

Part of J.A.D.E. Animation with Vern Preston and George Mumford was located under the Bear Show bleachers. You would enter from a gate near the Teahouse Restaurant. Inside was a workshop with the walls covered with tools. If they didn't have the right tool, George would make it right there. I remember Vern showing me glass eyeballs and teeth for his lifelike animatronic figures. He used dental investment materials to create molded hands that were so accuate that they still had fingerprints of the person being molded. Vern also had another lab in another location that had a floor that moved like liquid flowing underneath. I remember a secret door that opened when a particular chess piece was moved on a chess board. When he made the head of a figure, he would rough cast it in wax. The wax head was then sent to the Movieland Wax Museum where it was further sculpted to resemble a particular person. This wax head was then set in plaster and the wax was melted out. The result was a plaster mold of the head. He then used a latex material that he coated the inside of the mold. When it dried, he could remove a latex full head mask of the person. The mask was pulled over a fully automated animatronic head that would move using tiny pneumatic cylinders and compressed air. This was sent back to the Movieland Wax Museum for hair and makeup. One of his animatronics figures announced the show with the Japanese dancers and tea ceremony.

I remember going to the Japanese Deer Park often as a child, usually going with my grandparents and parents. I also remember at least one school field trip to the park. It was fun to feed the deer and watch the shows, like Dolphin show and the Karate demonstration.

reading all of these comments has certainly brought back loads of memories...my grandma often took me to the deer park but the one thing i remember most but haven't seen mentioned was the creature from the black lagoon water show. i'm certain it was here. they had some sort of dolphin show and then it would get dark and the pool would turn green...this ringing a bell with anyone? i remember as soon as it got dark my eyes would go to the alcove where the guy in the costume would wait and it was always scarier watching him wait, then seeing the actual show.

When my husband and I were first married in 1970 we used to take his mother and sister to the Japanese Village and Deerpark. I have photos feeding the deer, and we loved seeing the Hokkaido bears which were special to my husband and his family, as he was born in Hokkaido. My first tabi's were purchased at the JVDP, as were many Japanese momentos I still have today. Wish it was still there so I could take my grandchildren to that lovely, peaceful, tiny piece of Japan here in the States.

I remember visiting this park when I was about 8 years old. My brother was about 5 and my sister was about 8. We would drive down from Fresno and this was one of the amusement parks that we would hit. I also remember the Busch Gardens. I am going to look for the picture where we are feeding the deer. Also, on a side note, Steven Segal was one of the karate demonstrators there on the park premises. He was just a kid and studying karate and aikido.

Japanese Village and Deer Park was on Knotts Ave just south of the freeway opposite side of the Nabisco factory. It became Enchanted Village for a few years, I worked there then.After Enchanted Village went bankrupt, it all closed. It is now an industrial park...can't even tell it was ever there.

Boy was I amazed to find this topic. I always remembered a place called Japanese Village and it was across from the Nabisco plant... but the memories were so vague and fuzzy, that I too, thought it was a dream. I remember the pearl divers and I got a pink pearl... it was the coolest thing ever...LOL... but I thought the pearl divers were at Sea World?

I can still remember my mom telling me "ok kids were going to go to the Japanese deer park" We loved feeding the coy fish and the deers.It felt like we were actually in Japan, seeing all the women in their kimonos greeting us as we came into the park.What a great time we had back then.Bill Reynolds In Florida

I met a guy at the Japanese Deer Park Saturday night dance when I was just one month shy of my 16th birthday in August of 1971. We will be married for 36 years this June. My girlfriend and I would go there on weekends to listen to the band and go dancing. I think that we knew the entire script of every show there. It was so sad to see it go......

My 4th Grade class at Emerson Manner Elementary school (in Westchester) took a field trip to Japanese Garden in '73. I recall the female Pearl Diver (show), the Panda Bears, the Karate exhibition, Deers, authentic music, ..It was very surreal. In fact, later that same year onthe relatively new TV show "The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour" they filmed it live atJapanese Gardens.. (with Tina Turner Guest singer). If I could "only get a copy" of that episode. The late comedian, Avery Schreiber, was in alot of Nacho-cheese chips TV commercials during that time. This site has Great memories.

just ran across this by accident, i worked at JDP in the mid 70's. i was the swamp monster in the sea theatre show. a 'hunter' would fall in the water, i'd appear & pull him under. fun summer! now i'm in arkansas @ club tattoo479-750-1835 -billy club

Neat site. I remember Japanese Deer Park. Feeding the Koi and the Deer, watching an audience member (did he really work there?) wrestle a bear, the sea theater show mentioned above and the overall beauty of the park. I know it is long gone but remember it like it was yesterday!

I had been trying to remember the name of this theme park which I visited several times as a kid. We lived in Whittier so Knotts Berry Farm, Disneyland and Japanese Deer Park were places we would go for birthdays or summer vacation. The Deer Park was slightly less of a draw than Knotts or Disneyland do to the lack of scary roller coaster type rides that kids like but I always remember the Pearl Divers; that was the main attraction at the Japanese Gardens that I remember. I remember the Divers were Asian ladies known to be able to hold their breath for up to 3 minutes. I remember they would dive down and come up with an Oyster and then you could buy the Pearl in that Oyster. I'm sorry that the Deer Park didn't survive the decades as did Knotts and Disneyland. It was truly a great theme park.

My daughter recently had to complete an English assignment in her freshman class.It was about writing a short story about any photo we have in our home and where the photo was taken, who's in it and it's meaning. She chose a photo of her grandmother (my mom). It was taken at Japanese Deer Park where my mother and my sisters and I worked when we were youngsters. My mother was in a show where she demonstrated the art of the Tea Ceremony. My sisters and I were in a show on the same stage over a dolphin lagoon where we performed traditional Japanese dancing. I came across this site for possible research for my daughters assignment. Actually, she was the one that found it. Brings back a flood of wonderful, cherished memories. A place I wish my own children could have experienced. Thank you for the memories.

I remember going to the Deer Park in the late '60s and loved the tranquility of the place. I bought myself a glass figurine of a deer from there. Later, in the early '80s, I found myself working at a manufacturing plant in the industrial park that was built on the old JVDP site, and when I left work in the afternoon, I would smell the "hot ketchup" smell coming from the Nabisco plant (at least that's what is smelled like to me). So many things like the Japanese Deer Park are now gone, and what a shame!

To Chie's comment above: I worked with your mom (Yoshie)demonstrating and narrating the tea ceremony show. I still have photos of us on the little stage. I also announced the dance show over the dolphin lagoon and remember you and your sisters as little girls. Hang on to those precious memories!

The owners of Japanese Deer Park, facing mounting red ink, begin giving lethal injections to their deer, claiming the animals have tuberculosis. Almost 200 of the deer are killed before the authorities stop them, ruling that the massacre was obviously for economic reasons. The surviving deer are donated to UC Davis for use in experiments.

Wow it seems no one I know remembers this place!!! I loved going there with my family and always wondered what happened to it-so sad when it closed down. Thanks for the pictures and the trip down memory lane!!!